Coming out of the shell
There was a time when frum women wore something called a "dickie" to make the neckline of a dress, top or suit tznius:
This is a dickie:
Yep, they look pretty stupid, and also don't help when you need sleeves-- and that's where frum women have evolved in fashion over the last five years or so from dickie to shell. Shells enable you to tznius-ify almost any top or dress by filling in the neckline and/or sleeves. The shell is now an international frum phenomenon, and has become so ubiquitous that there are actually two stores in Brooklyn (with multiple locations in other frum outposts) that sell exclusively "frum-style" shells.
What is a shell? The rest of the world calls them layering tops. Or t-shirts. Some might even say that the frum marketing cabal in the sky made up the shell phenomenon to get us to spend exorbitant amounts on poorly-made, cheap-fabric garments.
But a frum shell is so much more than a tightly-fitted long-sleeved tee you might buy at a regular store:
[EDIT Oct. 2010: I took inventory recently and the saled lady was wrong-- the new Junee's brand shells definitely have a higher neckline than the Kiki Rikis they are modeled on.]
Linda Leal shells are another decent brand; H20, Jacomino and Beres brands are all made from a similar material. These are the thicker, lycra/spandex type I mentioned above. While I do not prefer them for daily and casual wear, the material has a sheen to it that is often appropriate for fancier outfits.
None of them are spectacularly made. If you wear them regularly, you'll need to replace them just about every season. I always keep bodysuits, sleeveless, and 3/4 sleeve shells on hand in Black, Cream and White. On my last trip to Junee's I picked up some in blue, gray, pink and purple.
3/4 Sleeve Bodysuit ($24)
Sleeveless ($14)
3/4 Sleeve ($18)
The whole summer haul:
NOW, HOW DO I BUY ME SOME OF THESE SHELLS?
Option #1-- "I live in Brooklyn/I sometimes find myself in Brooklyn". Well then, lucky you:
*The Shell Station: Avenue L near E. 10th Street (Boro Park location as well)
*Basic Colors: Coney Island Avenue between Ave. J & K (Boro Park location as well)
*Junee's: Avenue J near E. 14th Street
Option #2-- "What's a Brooklyn?" Click here, my friend:
Junee's shells online
Aliza's Boutique
This is a dickie:
Yep, they look pretty stupid, and also don't help when you need sleeves-- and that's where frum women have evolved in fashion over the last five years or so from dickie to shell. Shells enable you to tznius-ify almost any top or dress by filling in the neckline and/or sleeves. The shell is now an international frum phenomenon, and has become so ubiquitous that there are actually two stores in Brooklyn (with multiple locations in other frum outposts) that sell exclusively "frum-style" shells.
What is a shell? The rest of the world calls them layering tops. Or t-shirts. Some might even say that the frum marketing cabal in the sky made up the shell phenomenon to get us to spend exorbitant amounts on poorly-made, cheap-fabric garments.
But a frum shell is so much more than a tightly-fitted long-sleeved tee you might buy at a regular store:
- The neckline is acceptably high for frummies
- The fabric has a higher lycra/spandex content than most shirts for a tighter fit
- Some brands of shells are made with fabrics that have a sheen to them, making them more suitable for dressy outfits
- Shells also come in neato cuts like 3/4 cropped for maternity or general comfort, and my personal favorite, the bodysuit (a.k.a. "adult stretchie")-- for extra anchoring when you don't want your shell to ride up under a short or tight top, or a slinky dress.
[EDIT Oct. 2010: I took inventory recently and the saled lady was wrong-- the new Junee's brand shells definitely have a higher neckline than the Kiki Rikis they are modeled on.]
Linda Leal shells are another decent brand; H20, Jacomino and Beres brands are all made from a similar material. These are the thicker, lycra/spandex type I mentioned above. While I do not prefer them for daily and casual wear, the material has a sheen to it that is often appropriate for fancier outfits.
None of them are spectacularly made. If you wear them regularly, you'll need to replace them just about every season. I always keep bodysuits, sleeveless, and 3/4 sleeve shells on hand in Black, Cream and White. On my last trip to Junee's I picked up some in blue, gray, pink and purple.
3/4 Sleeve Bodysuit ($24)
Sleeveless ($14)
3/4 Sleeve ($18)
The whole summer haul:
NOW, HOW DO I BUY ME SOME OF THESE SHELLS?
Option #1-- "I live in Brooklyn/I sometimes find myself in Brooklyn". Well then, lucky you:
*The Shell Station: Avenue L near E. 10th Street (Boro Park location as well)
*Basic Colors: Coney Island Avenue between Ave. J & K (Boro Park location as well)
*Junee's: Avenue J near E. 14th Street
Option #2-- "What's a Brooklyn?" Click here, my friend:
Junee's shells online
Aliza's Boutique